PARTICIPATING upland and coastal farmers associations in Negros Occidental have generated P753,828 in total sales through People’s Organization (PO) Product Selling held at the Provincial Capitol grounds in Bacolod City until Saturday, June 30.
The amount was earned by 20 POs assisted by the Provincial Environment Management Office (Pemo) during the two-week product selling which started on June 18.
The activity was part of the 26th Provincial Environment Week celebration aimed at helping farmers alleviate their status of living while promoting protection and conservation of the environment.
Luisa Tutor, provincial senior environmental management specialist, said the product selling successfully gathered partner-protectors of the environment and empowered communities in the province.
Tutor said empowered communities are composed not only of farmers but also entrepreneurs, who are helping Pemo in achieving its vision to have a sustainable economic growth.
"They beat plastic use by supporting the green event showcasing their products grown using environment-friendly farm practices," she added.
Aside from increasing awareness of environment protection, the product selling was also positioned to provide POs the venue to increase their income.
Tutor said the amount generated is already a "positive turnout" as it could not be earned by farmers and fisherfolk if they just stay in their respective farms.
The activity has also showcased wide-variety of locally and naturally grown agriculture and fishery products.
Daily fair
With the success of product selling, the Provincial Government is planning to hold a daily agro-fishery fair at the Capitol grounds.
Tutor said they recognized the need for farmers to have sure markets, and that the daily fair could address this.
Tutor said they are partnering with the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) for such initiative, which may start on the latter part of this month.
She said Pemo and OPA have yet to finalize the program but initially, it will be an alternate product selling.
"Possibly, we will have Pemo-assisted POs during the first week then those assisted by OPA will be on the following week," Tutor said, adding that "we aim to eventually cover all POs in the province."